Method of mending fabric articles



April 1o, 192s.

H. I IEDTKE METHOD OF MNDING FABRIC ARTICLES Filed May 2 Q :is

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES HANS LIEDTKE, 0F HAMBURG, GERMANY.

METHOD OF MENDING FABRIC ARTICLES.

Application letl May 2, 1927, Serial No. 188,410, and in Germany June 3,1926.

This invention relates to a method of mending fabric articles andparticularly knitted fabrics which are subjected in use to more or lessstretching or distortion by r-eason of the nature of their material.I Q

The improved method consists in utilizing a patch of the same materialas that of the article being mended and applying this patch to insure acementitious adherence to the fabric in a manner to avoid and remove anycement material throughout the area of the hole or opening being mendedto thereby provide a patch which will, when in place, be a substantialcontinuation both in appearance and character of the original material.n

The patch used in the improved method is of a material which in weaveand color resembles and has substantially the same characteristics andmay of course be of the identical material with that of the articlebeing mended. This patch is repared by applying to one surface and troughout that surface a thin layer of cementitious material, as forexample a rubber solution. The edge of the hole or opening in thegarment to be mended is trimmed to present a smooth edge and the garmentis reversed and placed with its outer surface upon an appropriatelyformed hard surface between which and the garment there is interposed alayer of flannel or woolen cloth. The patch is then applied on the thenupper surface of the garment which is the inner or reverse side thereof,the cement coated side of the patch being of course applied next to thefabric of the garment.

A heated element, as a hot iron, is then passed over the unimpregnatedside of the patch, sutiicient pressure being applied to cause the patchto adhere firmly to the garment. The heat and pressure of the ironcauses the cementitious material on the patch within the hole or openingto pass through and into the underlying flannel or woolenmaterial,'while at the same time this cement firmly unites the patch andgarment beyond the hole or opening.

The garment is then reversed and the patch will be found to be in firmadherence to the garment, united therewith particularly close at theedges of the hole or opening, while that portion of the patch within theoutline of the original hole or opening is entirely free of thecementitious material.v

The patch is thus substantially invisible and as the material of thepatch is of the same texture and characteristics as that of the garmentbeing mended, the patch will respond to all stretching and other actionof the material exactly in accordance with the action of the material ofthe original garment. Thus, the patch, if correctly applied to insure afirm adherence, is practically as strong as the garment and there is notendency to displace the patch incident to un equal resiliency ofstretching ofthe garment and patch. l

The method is particularly important in connection with mendingstockings or the like which, as well known, stretch more or less whenapplied and generally relax this stretching when not in use.

The method may be carried out as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of the article to be mended.

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the article applied on a supportready for securing the patch. l

Flgure 3. is a similar view showing the patch applied and the articleslightly removed from the support.

Figure 4 is a broken plan view of the article with the patch applied.

As illustrated, the article, say a stocking having a hole 2, is reversedand applied over a more or less rigid support 3 having a covering 4 offlannel or the like. The patch 5, which may be shaped to correspond withthe shape of the hole but of greater dimensions, 1s coated on one sideas with a layer 6 of rubber cement. The patch is applied over the holeon the reverse side and the article drawn smoothly over the former 3 andheat and pressure applied as by a hot iron. The cementitious material isthus caused to adhere to the fabric of the article l while'the cement atthat portion of the patch within the outline of the hole is depositedupon the flannel covering 4 of the support 3. As the article is removedfrom the support, it will be found that the face of the patch within theoutline of the hole 2 will be free of any cementitious layeras indicatedat 7 in Figure 3, while the cementitous layer, which was previously onthe patch Within the outline ot' the hole 2, has been deposited on theiannel coveringl L ot' the support 3, as in- 5 dicated at G in Figure 3.

What I claim to be new is:

A method of monding holes or openings in hosiery or like fabrics,consisting in applying the cemented side of a patch of like material tothe reverse side of the article by 10 means of a heated pressureelement, and

'utilizing an absorbent material beneath the be mended by the heatedpressure element. 15

In testimony whereof I alx my signature.

HANS LIEDTKE.

